Road roller drive wheels and mountings therefor



June 8, 1948. J RlTCHlE 2,443,147

ROAD ROLLER DRIVE WHEELS AND MOUNTING S THEREFOR Filed Dec. 11, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inen't'or: JOHN R. RITCHIE a ga f%% fitter-meg- .//W% o I 15 m 0 June 8, 1948'. R, R,TH.E 2,443,147

ROAD ROLLER DRIVE WHEELS AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed De'c. 11, 1943 InSrenior: JOHN R. Rn'cm E fitter-ne June 8, 1948. J. R. RITCHIE 2,443,147

ROAD ROLLER DRIVE WHEELS AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 11, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 /fly m mp 9 63 63 "(9'7 in: a? 3 -34 4 1 4 66 4 Q .l L 436 180 I .7 i 65 57 i i is I F'iqr/o lnverflror-r JOHN RRrrcmE %Z4/.KW fitter-neg,

said machine.

Patented June 8, 194% ROAD ROLLER DRIVE WHEELS AND MOUNTINGS THEREFOR John R. Ritchie; Minneapolis, -Minn. Application December 11,1943, Serial No. 513,932

6 Claims. 1

advantages over a steel roller and will produce a higher degree of compaction than theold type of steel roller. Heretofore these road rollers with pneumatic tires have been in the form of trailers adapted to bepulled by a truck or other traction means.

It is an object of this invention to provide a road roller having a plurality of spaced tireequipped front wheels, a plurality of spaced tireequipped rear .wheels, said rear wheels being aligned longitudinally of the machine with" the spaces between said front Wheels, togetherwith means carried by said machine for propelling said machine and for steering said machine.

It is another dbject of the invention to provide a road rolling machine having a plurality of rear tire-equipped wheels, said wheels comprising. pairs of wheels, each pair being mounted on an axle which is oscillatable about a horizontal longitudinal axis, together "with meanscarried by the machine for driving certain of said :pairs of wheels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide. a road rolling machine comprising a plurality' of spaced tire-equipped front wheels,.said wheels being arranged in pairs, each pair of wheels being oscillatable as a unit about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said machine, all of said wheels being connected to a member oscillatable about a vertical axis together with means for oscillating said member to steer It is also an object of the inventionto provide a road rolling machine comprising a frame, a plurality of spaced tire-equipped rear wheels including a pair of wheels oscillatable about a horizontal axis extending between said wheelsand longitudinally of said machine, an axle carrying said pair of wheels, a driving wheel for said axle and a flexible connection between said driving wheel and axle permitting said oscillation of said wheels.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a road rolling machine having a plurality of tire-equipped rear wheels, some of which are arranged in pairs, said pairs being cscillatable about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said machine midway of said wheels, a motor on said machine, means for 4 driving certain of saidpairsofwheels from said motor, an aXle for each of said pairs, a driving wheel such as a sprocket for said axle, a connection between said driving wheel and axle comprising a member extending about said axle and oscillatable about pins or shafts extending at right angles to each other and connected respectively to said driving wheel and axle.

.These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth inthe following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which: 7

Fig 1 is a plan View of the road rolling machine of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation as seen from the bottom of Fig. 1;

"Fig. 3 is a partial view in front elevation;

'jF g. 4 isfor the most part a vertical section taken'on line 4-4 of Fig. l as indicated by the arrows;

. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section'taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows; y r

Fig. 6 is a partial view in side elevation;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the machine, some parts being broken away; I

Fig. 9 is a view partly in rear elevation and partly in vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 4; and V Fig. 10 is an enlarged'partial view of the speed changing gears used in horizontal section.

Ref erring' to the drawings, a machine is shown comprising a frame [0, and while this might take various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as comprising horizontally and longitudinally extending angle members Ida at the sides of the frame and transverse channel members lob. Other transverse angle members We and Hid are also shown. The frame II] forms a body having a chamber llie therein adapted to receive some substance to add Weight to the machine. A front wall Wee of said chamber extends in curved formation transversely of the machine. A post H is disposed between members lllb substantially midway of their endsand will be secured to the frame in any suitable manner. as by welding. A shaft I2 is. .-.journalled in'the-post H and has secured to its upper end a segment of a worm wheel gear I3 with which meshes a worm I4 secured to a shaft I5 and disposed in a casing I6. Shaft I5 extends rearwardly at an angle to the longitu dinal center line of the machine and is journalled in the upper end of a bracket I1 secured to angle member. I00. A-hand wheel I8 adapted to be turned by the operator isusecuredtto the end of shaft I5, Shaft {I2 is connected'at its lower end to a member 20 in turn pivotally connected by a pivot 2I to the center of a transversely ex tending member 24. Member 24 extends trans versely of the machine and has-rigidlw-secur'ed i thereto downwardly extending frame"'members 25. Members 25 have pivotallysecured thereto:

on members 26, axle housings 21 each carrying M an axle on which are mounted -a pair 'ofltireequipped wheels 23. In the embodiment of-the invention illustrated there are three pairs o'f'the' wheels 23, which wheels are equally spaced. It

i will thus be seen 'that'each'pairoi wheels 23 can oscillate" with itshOusing Z'I about-thepivot member 26. All of thefmembersfifv and thus all of' the wheels "23, will be turned when members 3% and Nate turned.

" with larger bevelled gears 33" and 34"secu'red respectively to shafts 36"andST;' journaled"in' bearings in a gear icasing"39. Clutchmech'anisms' 'dfl and Mare providedfadapt'e'd"tobe operatccl'by shift ed by ineans' of a lever 5i to surfoilri'dll'ahd mesh with a small gearllasecured tog'ear l'l. The gear assemblyffijis',formed with bevelled pinions- 52 which'niesHwith-bvlleZlgears? and 55 secured respectively to s arpest arid B'IJ -The bevelled pinions 52 and the bevelledfgears'fi land 55 form, a, differential' drivef'for 's'l'iafts" 56 ;and

T51. See Fig 10. ShaftsbB andBTar'e j'our naled respectively in membersTJS and '59 suitablysecured to theframe-and said shafts have seemed thereto sprocket pinions 60 w The frame member includesplates 10g,- Hliv and H12 and plates-Glare connected respectively to I plates I09 and Iflh by-headed 'andenutted bolts 63. Plates 62-with plates 1 0g and- Ifih respectively form brackets-depending from saidframemember andisaid brackets; are spaced longitudinally of said frame'member. There is a, pair .of-such brackets at each side ofthe; frame F member between each pair-50f the outer rearwheels. The

. pairs of said brackets are: :thus spz'tcedrtreansversely ofsaid-framemember. Plates SZT' haVB secured thereto in 'anyqzsuitable manners as ::by "welding,- the pins or shaftssfi l. 1 A -reinforcing angle member? 65 is disposed between lthe outer ends of :pins Mi anda pIateszBZ: =1 andI-is welded thereto. v The; pins' 64;. projectvinwardlyi through .1 plates :62 and have osc'illatably mounted thereon a casing 66 having bearing hubs 66a surrounding pins 64 and carrying bushings 61 engaging pins 54. The casing '66 has end hubs 66b, the axes of which extend at'right angles to the hubs 66a and hubs 66b have disposed therein bearings 88 which may be of any suitable type such as ball bearings. An axle I0 is journalled in bearings 68 and has'adjacent its .endsvvslightly tapered portions'lflato which are secured in any suitable manner asbby keys 1| the hubs 12a of wheels 12 shown as equipped with rather large pneumatic tires 13. Hubs IZa'are connected to the rim-carrying portions of Wheel l2L-by*circmnferentially spaced bolts I l. Plates "15'aresecured to the outer ends of hubs 66b by sealing members T7 are disposed in the ends of plates 7-5 surroun'ding axle I0. Plates l9 surround the axle I0 outwardly of portions 18a and engage the outer ends-of the central portions of hub members 72a, said plates being held by nuts '89 threadedonitheouteriends.ofaxlef'm; "Nuts tending "through portions 1 thereof and through .axle 11L The frame, includesiplate', portionsflw which. extend downwardin"diverging:'relationjto within a short f'distance"; of thetopl; 6f .hfibs 56b.

"Spaced'vertically extending plates fillcfardbecured, to'plat'es IE9 {and vex'terid"'downwarllly'- t'within' a short distance ofaxle HI. Th e" amusing: sc -forming the ten intermediate perthe short'yertical'flanges"666d. Plates 83 hay v flanges-securedtothe outer sideslofuplate and have arcua'ta .p0rtions";"83a,projetinghuttlwardly and: in 1 substantial =-,engagementlwitljfthe tops off fianges iGG d'which WiIlNaISd Lbe bf .a'r c1iate f form; Reinforcing vgusset plates 110m areldisposed between plates I [lb-and 'lfljiand. reinforcing connecting -,men bers I I linextend' rbetwe'enup ftes I ilk. Saidreinforcing members Lbe..secured inany, suitable manner asibymelding. lfl driving wheel -85; is providedgand F whilefithis could lbe ,iof

various' kinds the r embodiment' fZth U tionfillustratedait is shown as a sprolc et ovenfwhicht runs a-zchainlisfi alsdrunnin ver -v sprocketwheej fin. showriihfEig} llither are there-willithuslbe two -diiVi1'l'g Wh1S 85. Also as ShDWn iDIiFiQ-iS, there are-three pairs .-0f-ethe.WhBe1s- ILuidf-Ehus three of the axles 1 G, 'g'I-heloutsidelpairs.ofiwlieels 13 only-are driven. .Theipairib'f wheels'tdjthe portion I 901); The -wheel f'l3aa to thewl ftiofi the pins :92 which project into opening 785m with counter-boresat thei have a plain =axlehousingiM T which swingable aboutra pivot pin-v89 carried in a. depending; frame 7 right hand.pairfofidrivenwheels is; avv single in a depending portion Ifip of theLi i -ii ig e wheel 35 has a ratherlarge opening-8a concentric therewith and has --s e curedthereto djacent. eitherl-sidevof saida o peningrbra cket 8l=-by -means ofheadedMscre s- BB. 1 BracketsQflI have cylindrical portions -8-1 arrinmwhich are; cured wingstslI haveflanges which seatein saidxcounterbores. The heads of -bushings-Shon pinslazeeiagage the inner flat faces oi bracket portions 81a.

'circ-umferentially spaced headed bolts I6 and oil ex e d of a road.

The axle 10 has projecting bosses Hlb at opposite sides having fiatfaces which engage the ends of the'flan'ges on the other two-bushings 9|. A pin 93 extends diametrically'throughaxle l and is mounted for floating movement, said pin pro-' jecting beyond bosses 10b and having end por- A seat 95 is provided supported a short distance above frame members lilo by a bar 95a which downwardly and is secured to plate It).

Seat 95faces toward the center of the machine.

: The operator is in convenient position for operating hand wheel [8 and for operating the levers v45 andl.

The machine various kinds and also used, to roll the surface The body of the frame will be suitably loaded to give the desired weight to the machine. The operator will occupy seat 95 and will be in control of motor 30 which will be driven. The gear member 48 gives two speeds. When gears 50 and 48b are engaged there will be one speed used, and when gear assembly 48 is shifted so that internal gear 50a meshes with gear 41a, gear 4'! drives gear 48 to give another speed. The operator will operate lever 45 to connect one or the other of clutches 40 or M to drive either gear 34 and shaft 36 or gear 33 and shaft 31 so that shaft 3| will be driven to propel the machine forwardly or rearwardly. Shafts 36 and 31 will be driven in relatively opposite directions through bevelled gears 33 and 34 respectively by means of bevelled gear 32. Shafts 56 and 51 will thus be driven as shown, through the differential mechanism described and sprockets 63 will be driven. Sprockets 60 will through the chains 85, drive the sprocket wheels 85. Sprocket wheels 85 will drive the ring 99 through pins 88 and ring 90 will drive axle 19 through the pin 93 extending through and secured to said axle. As stated, housing 66 and thus axle 10 with wheels 12, can oscillate a short distance about pins 64. Provision is made for about one degree oscillation in each direction before the top of hub 66b engages with the frame plates 107. It will be seen that the ring 99 which can oscillate about both pin 93 and pins 92, forms a flexible connection between the axle l0 and sprocket wheel 85. This flexible connection is provided to permit the desired oscillation of the wheels about pin 64. Ring 90 acts with pins 92 and 93 to form in effect a universal joint between the axle 19 and sprocket wheel 85. Sprocket wheel 85 therefore, need not move out of its vertical plane when the wheels oscillate about pins 64. The oscillation of the pairs of Wheels is desired in order to get a better and more uniform bearing of the tires on the surface. The plates 83 form covers for the upper open end of the casing 66, which opening is between the flanges 66dd. Housing or casing 66 is thus kept sealed.

The operator by turning hand wheel l8, turns Vertical shaft 12 through the shaft 15 and worm and worm wheel gearing, thus turning members 29 and 24 about the axis of shaft l2. This swings all of the members 25 and the pairs of wheels carried thereby so that the device is steered in the desired direction.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a compact and very eflicient power driven road rolling machine. Heretofore, these road rolling machines have been constructed so as to be drawn by some tractor. With the present construction the machine can be inis used to compact road beds of dividua'llyoperated and'ihence, can be in-ore con- I veniently brought 'into' many more places than trailer type.

"whenit had to bejpulled'by a tractoror truck.

A much more "perfect control is had of the machine and it can be used to do more efficient work. The machine can be quickly reversed without turning which is a great advantageover the v Tracks extendingtransversely in curved form are thus eliminated. The machine is very compact and the parts are conveniently arranged for operation and control; It willbe obvious'that the device 'will have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will of course, be understood that'various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts,without departing from the scope of applicants invention,

which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objectsabove set forth, in the'parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. A'road'rolling machine having in combination, a frame comprising a weighted body, a plurality of pairs of wheels at one end of said frame having road rolling tires thereon, certain of said pairs being driven, pairs of brackets, the brackets of each pair being spaced longitudinally of said frame and depending therefrom between a pair of driven wheels, a housing pivoted to each pair of brackets about an axis extending substantially parallel to the plane of said wheels, spaced bearings in said housing, an axle journaled in said bearings on which said wheels are carried, a pin extending through said axle midway between said bearings and movable longitudinally in said axle in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said wheels, a driving sprocket disposed in said housing in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said wheels, said pin being disposed in the plane .of said sprocket and in a central opening in said sprocket, a ring surrounding said axle and disposed in said opening having bores into which said pin extends, longitudinally movable pins disposed at right angles to said pin carried by said ring and extending into openings in said sprocket at opposite sides of said axle, and means on said frame for driving each of said sprockets.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, said housing having hubs in which said bearings are disposed and members depending from said frame adjacent to said hubs for limiting oscillating movement of said housing.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, the sides of said opening in said sprocket limiting the longitudinal movement of said first mentioned pin in said axle.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, brackets secured to the sides of said sprocket having bores in which said last mentioned pins are disposed, said pins being limited in their longitudinal movement in one direction by the sides of said opening in said sprocket and in the other direction by said axle.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, spaced plate-like members depending from said frame at each side .of said sprocket respectively and substantially parallel thereto, members extending outwardly at the remote sides of said last mentioned members, said housing having hubs in which said bearings are disposed, the inner ends of said hubs having portions disposed at the lower sides of said last mentioned members and in close proximity thereto. 

